Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina with the trophy after beating Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open women's singles final on Saturday. Photograph: David Gray/AFP via Getty ImagesElena Rybakina produced a ​thunderous display to dismantle Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday and capture ‍a maiden Australian Open title, turning the tables on the world number one ‍in their Melbourne Park final rematch from three years ago. Having ⁠arrived with 46 hardcourt Grand Slam match wins from the last 48, four-times major winner Sabalenka ‍found her groove and started the second set more positively, but Rybakina saved three breakpoints to hold for 1-1. A wayward forehand from Rybakina handed Sabalenka the chance to level at one set apiece, and the Belarusian gleefully took it to turn the final set into a shootout ‌destined to be decided ‌by whichever player held their nerves. Having beaten Rybakina from a similar situation in the 2023 title clash, Sabalenka ‌unleashed a flurry of winners to go ahead 3-0, but the Kazakh erased ⁠the deficit and broke for 4-3 before securing the victory to add to her 2022 Wimbledon triumph.

Source: The Irish Times January 31, 2026 23:32 UTC